Wise, Scott, Lee schools get security grants

RICHMOND — State Del. Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City, has announced that several Southwest Virginia schools will receive grants to purchase school security equipment.

“Keeping our children safe is a priority of the General Assembly,” Kilgore said. “These grants will help us ensure that we are able to have the necessary security equipment in many of our school districts.”

The funds can be used for video monitoring systems, metal detectors, classroom locks, electronic access controls, visitor identification systems, direct communications between schools and law enforcement agencies and other security-related upgrades.

The criteria for receiving grant awards, Kilgore said, were developed by the Virginia Department of Education and the state Department of Criminal Justice Services and give priority to schools most in need of modern security equipment, schools with relatively high numbers of offenses, schools with equipment needs identified by a school security audit and/or schools in divisions least able to afford security upgrades.